IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs KKR- Match 31

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) made a great start in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with two successive victories. However, in the last three encounters, they have faced two defeats, including the one against the Rajasthan Royals by a decent margin.

Punjab’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, will have so many concerns for the next game. One of their main pacers, Lockie Ferguson, left the field just four balls into his spell with a calf strain. Marco Jansen went for 39 runs in two overs without any success.

PBKS needs to develop a balanced bowling line-up for the home fixture against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs KKR- Match 31

Openers- Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh

The PBKS side's opening stand, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, used the conditions pretty well against Sunrisers Hyderabad. They scored 66 runs in just four overs, giving them a fantastic start with the bat.

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The wicket-keeper batter nailed 42 runs in just 23 balls, shouldering on seven boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 182.61. Arya, the wonder boy, was coming into the clash fresh from the second fastest IPL century as an Indian against the Chennai Super Kings at home, cracked 36 runs in 13 balls, thanks to two fours and four sixes.

The best shot of the night came from Priyansh’s bat as he waited on the back foot and transferred the entire power to thump the short ball over cow corner.

Middle order- Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen/Aaron Hardie

After such a powerful start in the campaign, it was important for someone to carry the aggression for PBKS in the fixture. Their captain took the responsibility. Shreyas used his feet to tackle both the pacers and the spinners. He hardly looked to keep the ball on the ground during his 82 runs in 36 balls at a strike rate of 227.78, thanks to six boundaries and six over boundaries.

Nehal Wadhera struggled in the middle for 27 runs in 22 balls. Harshal Patel, for the Sunrisers, used the slower balls beautifully to fox the batters, while Pat Cummins kept on finding the wide-yorker line continuously towards the backend of the innings.

Glenn Maxwell failed for three runs in seven balls. But it was Marcus Stoinis who clubbed Mohammed Shami for four successive sixes in the final over to finish with 34 runs in 11 balls. He shouldered PBKS over the 240-run mark, which, at one point, looked to be ending below the 220-run mark.

Bowlers- Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur/Vijaykumar Vyshak

Yuzvendra Chahal’s poor form means PBKS hasn’t picked up enough wickets in the middle overs to bandage the run flow of scoring. The leg spinners went for 56 runs in their four overs at an economy rate of 14. Ferguson’s injury could open the chance for the side to opt for Xavier Bartlett against the Knight Riders.

They can also think of bringing Aaron Hardie in on the side to replace struggling Jansen. It’s surprising how they didn’t have enough chance to Vijaykumar Vyshak, despite the pacer hitting the wide yorker length beautifully in the very first clash.

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Arshdeep Singh, who returned with 1/37 in four overs against Hyderabad, will hope to get a better partner with the new ball from the other end.

PBKS Predicted Playing XI vs KKR- IPL 2025, Match 31

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen/Aaron Hardie, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Xavier Bartlett.

Impact Sub: Yash Thakur/Vijaykumar Vyshak